Read to your child every day. Make this a warm and loving time when the two of you can cuddle close together. Bedtime is an especially great time for reading together.

Tips#2: Give Everything A Name

You can build comprehension skills early, even with the littlest child. Play games that involve naming or pointing to objects. Say things like, "Where's your nose?" and then, "Where's Mommy's nose?" Or touch your child's nose and say, "What's this?"

The first day of school is as nerve racking for distance learners as it is for traditional students, possibly even more due to the lack of familiarity with the new method of teaching. Initially there might be some hesitation but as you progress along in the class you will become familiar with the formats. The tools used might take some getting used to but if you use online tools in your daily life, then this shouldn't be all that different.

Online Learning Platform

The learning portal is where you will access all your courses. This is where you will download course outlines, reading lists and your class content. Everything that you will need for the class should be on that one platform including power point presentations, assignment details, grading systems, video lectures and so on.

The learning platform should have discussion forums that can be accessed at any time. It should have course calendars, student drop box and even video chatting software so you can interact with your faculty and fellow distance learners. Due to the kind of technology available nowadays, more and more online schools are coming up with features to make the courses more participatory and interesting. Social media type features allow students to create their profiles and connect with fellow students while programs like Elluminate allow live training to take place.

Things You Need

Tips#3: Say How Much You Enjoy Reading Together

Tell your child how much you enjoy reading with him or her. Look forward to this time you spend together. Talk about "story time" as the favorite part of your day.

Tips#4: Be Interactive

Engage your child so he or she will actively listen to a story. Discuss what's happening, point out things on the page, and answer your child's questions. Ask questions of your own and listen to your child's responses.

A laptop placed in a quiet area where you can be alone and concentrate

Headphones

Fast Internet connection

School books

All the relevant apps and soft wares to access the online learning portal and its contents

Time Commitments

Even though distance learning through online schools offers flexibility that traditional degrees lack, you still have to put in substantial time and effort into the program. You might cut down on commute time, parking issues and general distractions on campus but studying the material on your own without first hand explanation and peer study groups will require you to work even harder.

On average, online classes require about three hours of class work per credit hour each week. Many online schools also offer accelerated programs that condense for instance, a sixteen-week program into eight weeks, making your time commitment even more intense.

Making Friends In Online Classes

The first criticism leveled at online degree programs is that they lack social interaction. In fact, the small interactive virtual groups in distance learning classes are even more conducive to social interaction than large lecture halls filled to the brim with students.

The key is to:

Take interactive courses that have a strong peer interaction base through group blogs, discussion forums and group assignments.

Make the first move and strike up a conversation. Make the effort to get to know your peers and listen to their views. Try to establish common ground and make an effort to stay in touch.

Ask questions, share ideas and jokes, and participate in lively discussions. This will go a long way in establishing peer relationships and this interaction is what recruiters are also looking for.

Tips#5: Read It Again And Again And Again

Your child will probably want to hear a favorite story over and over. Go ahead and read the same book for the 100th time! Research suggests that repeated readings help children develop language skills.

Tips#6: Talk About Writing, Too

Draw your child's attention to the way writing works. When looking at a book together, point out how we read from left to right and how words are separated by spaces.